One-window centre draws Rs5.1b

GWADAR BUREAU ???Federal Minister for Board of Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh told the World Investment Conference in Geneva that a one-window Business Facilitation Centre in Islamabad served 5,386 businesses, processed 4,555 approvals and no-objection certificates, facilitated investment worth Rs5.08 billion and supported 15,680 jobs during its first eight months, with an investor satisfaction rating of 9.8 out of 10.

The centre brings 22 federal government agencies under one roof through a one-window mechanism, he said. He said more than 500 regulatory reforms had been undertaken across about 30 sectors in coordination with around 90 federal and provincial departments under the Pakistan Regulatory Modernisation Initiative and the Asaan Karobar Act 2025.

He said the reforms are designed to simplify procedures, reduce compliance costs, eliminate duplication and establish a more predictable and transparent regulatory environment. He said the Investment Policy 2023 allows up to 100% foreign equity participation in most sectors, subject to applicable laws and sector-specific restrictions, and provides for repatriation of capital, profits and dividends through authorised banking channels.

Special Economic Zones offer eligible enterprises a 10-year income tax exemption and a one-time exemption from customs duties and taxes on qualifying capital goods, he said. He identified information technology and digital services, agriculture and food processing, textiles and value-added manufacturing, mining and minerals, renewable energy, infrastructure, logistics, pharmaceuticals and tourism as sectors offering potential for investors.

He said Pakistan welcomes investment that strengthens industrial capacity, introduces modern technologies, develops local supply chains, enhances exports and generates employment. He highlighted Pakistan's location at the crossroads of South Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East and China, and its seaports at Karachi, Port Qasim and Gwadar as assets for regional connectivity, trade and logistics.

The Special Investment Facilitation Council provides an institutional platform for coordinated investment facilitation among federal and provincial governments, he said. He reaffirmed cooperation with the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies and acknowledged the Board of Investment's engagement in its steering committee.

He said investment promotion agencies must move beyond conventional marketing and play a proactive role in end-to-end investor facilitation, policy development, institutional coordination and lasting relationships with investors.